Team DailyPedia
Six students of the Bulacan State University (BSU) drowned while one other went missing after flashfloods hit Barangay Sibul, San Miguel, Bulacan on Tuesday afternoon. The Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) said 8 first-year BSU tourism students were crossing a river from Madlum Cave on a raft when they were suddenly swept away by raging floodwaters.
(on Facebook) BulSu: ANG HULING LARAWAN. Makikita sa larawan ang totoong nangyari sa 9 na magkakaibigan. Walang bangka, tumatawid sila ng bilang nagkaroon ng strong water current kung kaya tinangay sila. Nakakakilabot!
Here are the photos shared on Facebook:
The first year tourism students of Bulacan State University were taking part in a field trip of BSU at the area of Madlum Cave and Madlum River in San Miguel town in Bulacan when they were swept away by raging waters triggered by a sudden downpour on Monday afternoon. Residents in the area said that the river always become “wild and raging” every time heavy rains fall in the mountains of Biak-Na-Bato, where massive extraction of the rare but expensive tea rose marble took place more than four years ago.
Felicisima Mungcal, Bulacan PDRRMO head, said eight students were crossing the Madlum River when a strong current swept them away at 3 p.m. She said it was raining in the area that time. She said the bodies of four students were recovered while two other students were rescued and taken to a local hospital.
Meanwhile, the BSU management showed waivers signed by the students and their parents, exempting the BSU from any accountability if something happened to the students. But the BSU said the waiver is nullified if negligence on the part of the organizers was established. The tour consisted of around 180 students, three teachers and 10 tourist guides.
Sana di sila pinayagan na tumawid sa ilog, kasi kung sa picture plang…mkikita mu na malakas talaga ang water current.. 🙁
Flashflood ung nangyari, probably nasa gitna na sila nung rumagasa yung tubig, kasi kung natural na malakas alon sa area na un, normally may lubid ka na tatawiran from one end to another.
Yep, it’s true that a waiver would defend a school. But on the pics provided, it clearly shows that there were no actions taken before this happened. The water is already high that if the crossing of students were actually not permitted or delayed by teachers or should I say the tourist guides who should have a greater knowledge that this could possibly happen, then students will never put into danger. Well, delayed timeline of the field trip is better than risking the lives of the students. Everyone has fault on this tragic scenario but I hope no one will be draw away from any obligation/s.
Yep, it’s true that a waiver would somehow defend a school. But on the pics provided, it clearly shows that there were no actions taken before this happened. The water is already high that if the crossing of students were actually not permitted or delayed by teachers or should I say the tourist guides who should have a greater knowledge that this could possibly happen, then students will never be put into danger. Well, delayed timeline of the field trip is better than risking the lives of the students. Everyone has fault on this tragic scenario but I hope no one will be drawn away from any obligation/s.
nope. before they were swept away by the water, the river was still calm, and just knee deep. the occurrence of the event that killed them was unexpected nor foreseen, or though foreseen inevitable. this is the reason why conducting investigation to determine the degree of diligence performed by the school officials who were there is important.
I saw the video of this one. The water was not yet that high when they were crossing the river. It was raining there and when the strong currents came, the students were in the middle of the river. They didn’t have the time to go back to the side of the river
Can you show the link? What I saw was an indian or sri lankan video showing how a similar situation.
gayan din ang nangyari sa mga pamangkin ko ng mamsyal sila sa Cagayan de Oro. 3 ang patay at nakatakbo sya at 2 pang kasama,ung 3 nagpipicture taking pa at hanggang tuhod lang ang tubig at umaambon pa lang nang makarinig sila ng ingay na papalapit,paglingon ng nephew ko ung nakaligtas 20 feet na ang tubig na papunta sa knila.Puro bagong graguate pa naman sila.1 girl,1 bakla at 1 lalaki.Natangay sila ng agos at napakalayo ng sila y makuha.Palagay ko galing sa bundok ang tubig dahil umuulan na at naipon ito sa ilog.Mag-ingat sa mga ilog at Falls.
Avoidable po ito kung na hazard briefing muna yung mga students bago sila nag lakbay sa bundok.safety meeting hazard identification para aware yung mga students sa panganib sa kapaligiran. para sakin malaki ang panangutan ng kanilang school sa pangyayaring ito.hindi ito aksidente kundi kapabayaan..
I believe there is negligence there somewhere, but I’m not an outdoor expert. Can you please point out the precautionary method that you would have done if you were in charge in order to prevent this?
Ang aksidente pwede maiwasan kung napagiisipan nng maagap, i think un guide nla ang mas nakakaalam nng dapat gawin during that time, dapat nabriefing muna cla tungkol sa area, or lets us say high risk induction, usually as my experience kapagmadagim o umuulan s bundok expect n kasunod nun lagaslas nng tubig sa ilog, manotice mu un s kulay nng tubig at ingay n dulot nito dapat aware n un tourist guide nla about that atleast may time p pra makapunta s tabihan nng ilog.dapt may managot dto..
Malinaw na may pagkukulang ang Magkabilang panig. Sa school, it’s seems they don’t have any protocols implemented kaya pabaya ang mga teacher na na assign. Kung may protocols nmn, then tama lang na iterminate ang mga gurong kasama. Sa kabilang panig naman… di competent and mga empleyado nila… at hindi alerto. DAPAT PAREHO MAGKABILANG PANIG AND “MAGBAYAD” AT MANAGOT. They should have learned and for sure they will never forget this incident. But find another institution to start a new career na lang for the teachers concerned. Not enough that they will stay while the family are suffering. Same to the other side. Kailangan ng delikadesa ika nga.”
The way I observe, there is no safety orientation or safety consciousness on both the students and teachers in charge of the field trip. This must be the first thing to be taken up before doing so. “SAFETY” is the priority for a company or organization to be observed because accident is the most costly and can claim lives. Companies are doing this through seminars to achieve proper working conditions to avoid accident or be safe. It is given that the San Miguel river is really turbulent during rainy season which was out of the minds of the students to consider as seen taking pictures in the middle which is really dangerous for a surprise flash flood. Everything has been taken away because of their excitement. Had they been conscious of their safety through observation of the water rush in the river, “they should have not be proceeded to cross the river”. So with the teachers, they should have adviced the students not to cross. Or any safety moves to take like harness or ropes. Or detour through bridges if there are any. As field trip is one requirement for the course, why did they schedule it during rainy season for a venue which is risky wherein they did not foresee what will happen.
yes, sa ayaw man o sa gusto nila, ito ang mangyayari dahil sa ito ang naging dahilan ng kanilang kamatayan they said so many premonition about that tragedy! afterall, it is GODS will no one to blame because the history repeat itself kailangan pa ba ang precaution nung panahong nandun sila samantalang mapayapa ang ilog? no one knows whatever would happensok lets say may waiver kayong dapat pirmahan pero lahat ba ng pangyayari ganon? so its their destiny lets pray for the repose of their souls only GOD knowswhat will happencoz HE DOESNT WANT his CHILDREN to be harmed by anyone but its thier fate their destiny so next time before leaving to go another tour pray hard! GOD guide us and keep us away from danger!
The school and the company who arranged this tour for the students cannot deny this “Residents in the area said that the river always become “wild and raging” every time heavy rains fall in the mountains of Biak-Na-Bato, where massive extraction of the rare but expensive tea rose marble took place more than four years ago”
It’s not something new, and has been happening for the past 4yrs already. This is clear negligence.
Teachers and the tour guides should have taken this matter into consideration before planning this tour.
7 innocent lives perished due to negligence. As a parent, nobody and nothing can bring back the life of my child. Making them pay will not ease the pain they have caused.
I don’t believe that awareness can help save future lives. The residents are aware, did it stop the school from making the tour? Did they advise the students before getting into the water? Did the local officials make necessary warnings and signages to inform tourists of the danger? 4 YEARS!!!! and nobody bothered to care.
LAGI KASING WALA TAYONG PAKIELAM, NAGIGISING LANG TYO KAPAG MAY NAPAHAMAK NA.
Liability talaga ng BSU yan at ng mga teachers na kasama. Hindi maaring sabihin na dahil sa force of nature ang nangyari at wala silang kontrol over the situation. In the first place, tourism professors and instructors, dapat nagkaroon na kayo ng risk assessment bago pa man isabak sa kung anong nature trip ang mga estudyante ninyo. Liable kayo jan, alam ninyo yan ang you still wash your hands clean after the incident. Poor students, napaka-incompetent ng mga kasama ninyo from BSU. Shame.
Natural calamity,unknown mystery or should we say din na kasalan ng mga bata kc hnd nakinig. Basta ko isa lng mssabi ko. Bkit kelangan nyo dalin ang mga musmos sa isang lugar na matagal na nating alam na misteryoso or mahiwaga? My waiver nga ung punyetang bsu na yan hnd naman ksama sa itenerary nla ung madlum cave, my waiver nga cla pro nameet ba nla ung safety na nkasaad sa contract nla? Kaya wag nlang sabhin na malinis cla at wala silang pananagutan dhil kng malinis cla eh dapat buhay pa ung mga bata ngayon. Putang ina kapal ng mukha ng mga opisyal ng bsu!!!
Natural calamity,unknown mystery or should we say din na kasalan ng mga bata kc hnd nakinig. Basta ko isa lng mssabi ko. Bkit kelangan nyo dalin ang mga musmos sa isang lugar na matagal na nating alam na misteryoso or mahiwaga? My waiver nga ung pny*tang bsu na yan hnd naman ksama sa itenerary nla ung madlum cave, my waiver nga cla pro nameet ba nla ung safety na nkasaad sa contract nla? Kaya wag nlang sabhin na malinis cla at wala silang pananagutan dhil kng malinis cla eh dapat buhay pa ung mga bata ngayon. P*t*ng ina kapal ng mukha ng mga opisyal ng bsu!!!